Shocker: Dallas Poised to [Spoiler] J.R.!

TNT’s Dallas is taking a page from the original series’ playbook to explain J.R. Ewing’s sudden exit.

According to TV Guide Magazine, the iconic villain — played by the late Larry Hagman — will be murdered by an unknown assailant toward the middle of the show’s upcoming second season. The plot, of course, recalls the original program’s classic 1980 “Who Shot J.R.” cliffhanger.

“We all felt having J.R. die of natural causes would have been completely inappropriate, not only to the character, but also to Larry Hagman,” exec producer Cynthia Cidre told the mag.

As TVLine previously reported, J.R. will be laid to rest Season 2’s eighth episode, slated to air on March 11. The new season kicks off on Jan. 28.

Hagman completed work on a handful of Season 2 episodes prior to his death on Nov. 23 from cancer complications.

Thoughts? Do you agree with Cidre that killing off J.R. is the best way to honor both the character and Hagman? Any early theories as to who pulled the proverbial trigger this time around? Sound off below!

The Gary on Dallas is the Dallas universe Gary. In the Knots Landing universe, Bobby is still dead. Convoluted, yes, but that’s the way it is. Knots cut ties with Dallas when Bobby’s death turned out to be a dream.

@Gord: When Walter and Michael went forward in time to save the universe from the Observers, time was reset so that while Bobby Ewing didn’t die, much of those post-Bobby years of Knots Landing still happened.

Actually, JR was shot 4 times. The first time was in season 2 (79-80) The Dove Hunt. Then he was shot famously by Kristen at the end of the same season but we didn’t find out she did it until Sur Ellen proved her own innocence in Who Done It (4th ep of s3. 80-81). He was shot by BD Calhoun in s9 (86-87) and then Sue Ellen shot him in the s10 finale after he fought with Nicholas who fell of the balcony.

I’m sorry but it would only be right if Cliff Barnes pulls the trigger. He’s the only one still around that has that big of an ax to grind with JR but they won’t go there since his daughter is now in play. Can’t wait for it to come back although I will miss JR!

I agree, I read also that they asked for Patrick Duffy and Hagman’s son (Preston) for their thoughts and approval – I think it’s a very fitting send off for Hagman and that he’s grinning that JR grin about this tribute

Barbara was on the final season of DALLAS as an old lover of J.R.’s. named Leann De La Vega. Leann got pregnant by J.R. and felt she was too young to be a Mother and she had an abortion. Abortions weren’t exactly legal and Leann became barren because of it. Leann got her revenge on J.R. and gave Ewing Oil to Cliff but it wouldn’t be enough now would it?

Kristen died in the pool at Sf, but Cliff Barnes is the one you found her and said she was dead. What if he help her fake her death. Maybe she has came back to get some revenge and that would help creat another villan for the show. Just a thought

Kristen “fell” from the balcony of SF and Cliff Barnes found her in the pool. They followed Kristen’s whole life when Bobby and Pamela (Victoria) was trying to find out more about baby Christopher. Since at the time everyone thought that JR was the father. As the story turns out Kristen had a miscarriage of JR’s baby and quickly got impregnated by another guy in order to continue getting large sums of money from JR. Remember folks, Kristen is Sue Ellen’s younger sister. Which means Sue Ellen is aunt to Christopher. I also think that Larry Hagman’s passing is very sad. The timing is a few seasons off but Jim Davis who played Jock Ewing (JR, Gary, & Bobby’s father oops and fathered Ray Krebbs also) also died and they wrote his death into the story line. The story line was that Jock was in Venezuela on business and his plane crashed. A search and rescue team including his sons JR, Bobby & Ray Krebbs searched for him and ended with all 3 boys telling miss elle that Jock was gone. So I believe that Larry Hagman would want HIS character to be killed off in some why that would be in the style of JR Ewing. JR has to many enemies that probably are not dead yet that they could use. they will just have to explore the archives for the right person.

This seems only appropriate. Having JR Ewing go quietly into the good night seems wrong on all levels. I only hope they do it on a grand scale. Someone of importance to the entire Dallas story needs to be the one that finally kills him…not some random new character we’ve known for three episodes. It should be Cliff Barnes, or Sue Ellen, or even Bobby. Someone that hits a snapping point after years of dealing with JR.

And, given the age of the actor and character, it would be easy enough to make that his grand finale. It wouldn’t be too difficult to carry on logically without Cliff. And it would add more fuel to Rebecca’s fire.

This is a great idea. It hurts to lose this great actor and person. Huge part of my life coming home on Fridays to watch this brilliant show. I would bet Larry hangman is up above us and smiling down with thumbs up at the great send off. Larry will be missed but am thrilled Dallas is continuing in his honor.

Love it! J.R. Ewing is such an iconic larger than life character. Larry always had so much fun with the role and I’m sure that he’d want J.R.’s death to be just as outrageous and memorable as his life. No heart attack or car accident here.

Hahahaha! I LOVE that you guys know so much and in so much detail about the original Dallas! Yip, I think that JR finally getting shot to death is very fitting. RIP JR. You provided us with many, many years of entertainment. RIP Larry Hagman. What a legend!

I think this is a good way to end his character, JR will really be missed on this show, I am so loving this show that I set my alarm to make sure I was awake to watch. I would love to see the killer turn out to be the least expected person. RIP Larry Hagman/JR

It should be Pam, played by Victoria Principal. She came back and killed him because JR had her kidnapped and locked away all these years so she and Bobby couldn’t have a future together. Oh man, that would be great storyline!

JR was Dallas his character gave life to the rest of the cast. The new generation of Actors are sub-standard at best,with the old regulars living the end of an era, even television shows its reseveration by airing it on TNT……..the network with more commercials than show. I see it falling apart after the JR demise………….Heres to you JR you were the beginning and the end………..

Well Harris, the new bad guy was actually a different character in the original series. he was in the looney bin with JR. If you remember JR helped get this guy on tape that he faked being crazy to avoid prison for murdering someone. Because of JR, the guy went to prison for life. So if they were really good writers and wanted a twist, the killer could be Harris and he could have changed his name when he started his new life…